Chapter 2: Making a New Home

[Wbweather]

"Yes, I agree. The cost would be much lower than the price we might pay in blood."

[WalterPeck]

Nuallan looked at Ironhew. The man was offering himself as a sacrificial lamb to buy time for the refugees. Nuallan wanted to tell him 'no', he was the last family he had and didn't want to lose him. But it was a selfish thought. If successful what Ironhew was offering to do would be sung around campfires for generations to come.

"Ironhew is right. If he leads a diversionary attack and they follow him, it'll buy time for all of us. I can lead a second group that protects the rear while we travel through King Gwrgi's lands."

[Olligarchy]

"I would rather not lose any more warriors than we already have." Amblaib notes, partly out of love for the people offering to sacrifice themselves, and partly because as a king he would rather not have lost anymore men than they already had. The balance of power between Angles and Britons was already too far tilted to the Angle side, and if they lost even a few more men they might as well give up the notion of being anything more than Angle livestock.

"So no. Keep to guarding the caravan. You can keep a rear-guard, but I will have no heroic last stands or sacrifices anymore this night... the tribe cannot afford it."

[TetNak]

Traheran is about to disagree with Nuallan but Amblaib does it for him. The old warrior nods. "Guess you are making me walk then." He smiles, "Nephew, lets go gather the men and see to the defenses." He slaps Nuallan on the shoulder and heads to the back to protect the rear of their caravan.

Slowly, the caravan gets underway. Moving westward into the woods is slow going, but it might confuse the predators for a while longer and give them a chance to reach safety.

Rhedyn is chosen to present the gift as an envoy of peace, but they must decide how much of their riches to present as an offerring to the well known meglomaniac.

[Muskrat]

From among the Corieltauvi's remaining wealth, Rhedyn draws out a golden torc and an ornate shield, covered with gold and embossed with gems, more of ceremonial than practical value. "Well," she says to King Amblaib, "what do you think your majesty? Are you willing to part with these pretties? I think they should make King Gwrgi look less poorly on us." She looks back to Berwyn and Bearnoch to see what they are willing to offer.

"Also, in case King Gwrgi should prove hostile, regardless of what we offer him, I think you might want to send a bodyguard with me. It might make him think twice about crossing me."

[Olligarchy]

Smiling at the items, Amblaib lets out a small laugh,"Had I known we had such wonders I'd have told you to take a few chickens instead, but I suppose folks will have a better chance of feeding themselves with chickens than gold or silver. Take them... with my blessing."

He glances at Bearnoch to see if she objects to the Angle choice of item before answering the second request.

"Take Berwyn." It was better if one of the two Corieltauvi princes would be elsewhere... should one fall on the field or dinner table the other would still be far away and be able to bring swift vengeance to whomever had slain the other.

Plus Berwyn wasn't half bad as fighters went, and his station should elevate the words of a druid to ever grander heights.

[Wbweather]

"I will be happy to escort you aunt Rhedyn. Let's pray that Gwrgi is not so unreasonable as others have proven. I'm certain Bearnoch will have a much better knowledge of what her people can offer in way of tribute to him than I do." Berwyn is loathe to leave the people behind without assisting in the defensive effort, and yet a king would more likely be willing to treat with another member of royalty.

[Seosaidh]

Bearnoch goes to one of the Angle wagons and pulls out a large silver plate, embossed with roman figures. She also retrieves a pendant made of the same medal with a sapphire in the center.

"These should also help sooth the king. If Berwyn is going to go, then I shall accompany him. In any respect, I, or another of my people should also be represented so that Gwrgi won't suspect anything from our side."

[Olligarchy]

Glancing at Berwyn, hoping his brother is thinking the same, Amblaib clears his throat.

"That strikes me as a poorly thought plan. If yourself is with Berwyn, whom will lead your people?" The Corieltauvi had a strange advantage in that both Amblaib and Berwyn had a claim to kingship and the people could follow either of them, but the Angle leadership was focused solely on Bearnoch's person, and even if the Angles were willing to follow Amblaib the language difference could well doom any effort to lead them successfully to safety,"Besides... if the reaction yon people have received from the Brigantes so far have been any indication, King Gwirgi might find you more acceptable should you not stand in his hall."

[Wbweather]

Berwyn looks at Bearnoch. "I fear my brother speaks the truth. Your leadership would be sorely missed were you to travel with myself and Rhedyn. Your people, our people, need you to lead them to safety. They far outnumber Amblaib's, and they would be far more likely to follow you than him."